Thanks to those who helped return wallet

This is an open “thank you” note to several good Samaritans who came to my aid when I foolishly left my billfold in a cart after shopping at a local Wal-Mart.

Realizing what I had done after I drove the short distance home, I rushed back to the store in the frantic hope that the cart was still in the place where I left it, but neither cart nor billfold were there. A very kind woman named Gayle noticed my distress and offered to go with me to check inside the store where, to my profound gratitude, the lost item had been turned in, completely intact.

There was also a passenger in the car next to mine when I had driven away from the store, and another car parked in my space immediately as I left – I feel sure that one of these gentlemen turned in the billfold to customer service at the store, and this note is to thank these good and honest people, as well as my rescuer, Gayle.

It is so heartening to know there are so many good-hearted, caring persons of integrity who would go out of their way to help a grateful old lady. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Mary Ann Winstead

West Side

Thanks to Bryan for fighting for Duranguito

Many American cities lost historic neighborhoods and buildings to "urban renewal" and freeway construction. Most regretted the loss, and resolved to protect and maintain what remained.

El Paso lost less than most cities during that time, but is experiencing a continual loss of its historic and architectural heritage through demolition by neglect and the dominance of city policy by real estate interests.

Hats off to J.P. Bryan, a Houston oilman who has joined the fight to save Duranguito and its irreplaceable Trost firehouse in the face of local apathy and official opposition.

Matthew Carroll

Central El Paso

Trump responds weakly to deplorable actions

Remember when Hillary Clinton called a large segment of Trump supporters a "basket of deplorables"? Was anyone wondering to whom she referred? Well, wonder no longer.

But former KKK leader David Duke, whose pride was wounded by Trump, chided the president for condemning the violence, for attacking the white Americans who "put him in the presidency."

Meanwhile, government leaders berate Trump for not calling a spade a spade: for not explicitly denouncing "racism, white supremacy and neo-Nazis" (the phrase tweeted by daughter Ivanka) and for not uttering the word "terrorism" (which National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster didn't hesitate to apply in labeling the Charlottesville violence).

I suppose, however, that Trump could have denounced his deplorables by name and not suffered greatly for it, he who boasted he "could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" and not lose voters.

It's interesting to reflect upon Trump's withering criticism of President Obama for not using the phrase "Islamic terrorism," when Trump himself dares not speak of "domestic terrorism."

Little wonder that Asians are asking themselves who's more dangerous – Kim Jong-Un or Donald Trump. Americans should be asking the same question.

Richard Ford

West Side

Grossman is wrong in his attacks on Margo

Max Grossman needs to stop kicking the dead horse.

Taxpayers voted for the quality of life bonds and they do not want to now pay legal fees because of his obsession with history and some sort of revenge.

The firehouse has been included in the plan, not for demolition, but preservation. Grossman has stopped listening and is misrepresenting the truth.

He also needs to stop his attacks on our new mayor. Dee Margo is not the one who singly voted for the arena, the citizens of our city did to improve our lives. It is disgusting that he has singled out someone who wasn't even in office to threaten and blame.